DCN seeds the growth of entrepreneurs by attracting technology, capital, and talent to help communities build innovation economies.

DCN was launched in 1997 to provide specialized products, services, management and training to help build innovation economies at the community level. DCN combines the in-depth experience of our team with our extensive networks of innovators, developers and investors.

1997Launched the team that became Development Capital Networks (DCN)

1997Formed the National Association of Seed and Venture Funds (NASVF)

2001Launched the WBT Innovation Marketplace Accelerator

2001Began management of the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA)

Training, Workshops and Events

Angel Fund Facilitation

DCN facilitates the internal processes and tends to the administrative procedures of a network of Angel Funds that work together to invest in entrepreneurial ventures.

Development Funds

DCN brings an experienced, national team to building and managing state and local debt and equity funds that serve local entrepreneurs.

CURRENT PROJECTS

UASCI

DCN serves as manager of the Unmanned Aerial Systems Cluster Initiative of Oklahoma and Kansas (UASCI), funded in part through a contract with the U.S. Small Business Administration, accelerates the growth of the Unmanned Aerial System industry in the U.S. by enabling established companies and emerging entrepreneurs in Oklahoma and Kansas to connect, work together, and gain access to national technology, global capital, advanced business models and global markets.
uascluster.com

DEVELOPMENT FUNDS

North Dakota

DCN serves as co-manager with Praxis Strategy Group of the Red River Corridor Fund (RRCF). The Fund was launched to create jobs by helping small businesses across North Dakota gain access to capital. The RRCF was funded by the U.S. Department of Treasury as part of the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). The RRCF consists of a coalition of 36 North Dakota municipalities that joined together to bring this capital resource to their communities.
redrivercorridorfund.com

Wyoming

DCN serves as manager of the Wyoming Smart Capital Network (WSCN). The Fund was launched to create jobs by helping small businesses in Wyoming gain access to capital. The WSCN was funded by the U.S. Department of Treasury as part of the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). The WSCN consists of a coalition of 16 Wyoming municipalities that joined together to bring this capital resource to their communities. The fund provides both debt and equity.
wyosmartcapital.org

WBT ANGELS

WBTangels is a network of angel funds that work together to invest in entrepreneurial ventures. Each angel fund has the opportunity to leverage a national network of technology, talent, and capital sources provided through the WBT Innovation Marketplace and other partners. All members have the chance to interact with entrepreneurs and contribute knowledge and time to analyzing, building and managing their group's portfolio.

WBTangels is facilitating angel funds in North Dakota, Oklahoma and Wyoming.
wbtangels.com

OPEN INNOVATION

To compete in today’s global economy American business seeks new markets, new products, and new processes. Success often turns on gaining access to new technologies.

Open Innovation is a system for finding and acquiring new technologies from anywhere in the world to enhance a company’s product pipeline at home.

DCN produces Open Innovation events hosted by regional economic development organizations and industry groups. An Open Innovation Forum introduces the concepts and methods of Open Innovation to local companies, with a focus on an existing or emerging sector of strength within the region.
wbtoi.com

WBT INNOVATION MARKETPLACE

What began as an idea in early 2002, the WBT Innovation Marketplace (WBT) has served as a premier event showcasing a large collection of vetted and mentored companies and technologies emanating from top universities, labs, research institutions, and the private sector from across the country and around the globe.

The WBT Innovation Marketplace represents the collaborative, year-long effort of investors, licensees, and tech commercialization professionals. The WBT is deal-focused and diverse, showcasing companies and technologies that vary by geography, funding source, and type of research institution. Participating technologies, each supported by private funding, federal R&D grants or both. Technologies are selected by and presented to seasoned venture investors and Fortune 500 licensing scouts representing a variety of industries.
wbtshowcase.com

ASSOCIATION SERVICES

DCN provides executive leadership, program services, financial administration and information technology services to organizations concerned with economic and entrepreneurial development. DCN delivers accounting, tax prep and audit prep service for development funds, and a full suite of IT services for the Council of Development Finance Agencies.

COMPLETED PROJECTS

BIRD DOG INNOVATION STRATEGIES

Through its work in technology commercialization, DCN developed systems for facilitating the identification and transfer of technologies from research institutions to companies. This system included market and competitor analysis, advice on strategic patenting, partner identification and vetting, patent valuation, and license negotiation. The system was eventually bundled into a service and named Bird Dog Innovation Strategies. Jeﬀ Carpenter, a valued employee at DCN who served as the point person on the system, purchased the Bird Dog business from DCN in early 2014.
birddoginnovation.com

COUNCIL OF DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AGENCIES (CDFA)

The Council of Development Finance Agencies is a national association dedicated to the advancement of development finance concerns and interests. CDFA represents public, private and non-profit entities engaged in development finance at local and state levels. In 2001 DCN was recruited by the CDFA board to help restart the organization. From that year through mid-2017, DCN provided the executive management for CDFA and the full complement of programs for members. DCN grew the member list from 80 to over 500 and produced hundreds of conferences, seminars and workshops. In 2017 the board accepted direct responsibility for the staff and programs.
cdfa.net

LATIN AMERICAN VENTURE CAPITAL ASSOCIATION (LAVCA)

The Latin American Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (LAVCA) (formerly the Latin American Venture Capital Association) is a not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to supporting the growth of private capital investing (including private equity, venture capital, and real assets) in Latin America and the Caribbean. Formed by DCN in 2002 at the request of the Inter-American Development Bank, DCN provided full executive staff and program services through 2010. During that time, DCN grew membership from zero to over 100, gained multi-year financial support from the Multi-Lateral Investment Fund, held annual conference and research forums and launched the annual benchmark analysis of country by country readiness for venture capital and entrepreneurial development. In 2010 direct responsibility for staff and programs was transferred to the board.
lavca.org

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SEED & VENTURE FUNDS (NASVF)

NASVF was an organization of innovation capital leaders: private, public and non-profit organizations committed to building their local economies by investing in local entrepreneurs.

NASVF began informally in 1993 as an ad-hoc group of practitioners seeking the best models to encourage capital formation in their states, particularly for new technology ventures. In 1997 the group incorporated and engaged members of the DCN Team as managers. DCN grew membership from zero to over 250, delivered over 100 field seminars on seed investing for new angels, and dozens of annual conferences and research workshops. In 2009 the board accepted direct responsibility for the staff and programs.

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (NSF)

The National Science Foundation awards SBIR/STTR grants to small companies to perform research and development. DCN has consulted with over 500 of these awardees as they made preparations to submit Phase II proposals. Services included mentoring, market research, assessing milestones, and proposal writing assistance toward development of a technology commercialization plan.
seedfund.nsf.gov

PAST EVENTS

Seed and Venture Capital Events

UASCI Events

Technology Events

Development Finance Events

TEAM

Harve Allen

Harve served over nine years as public information officer for the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, where he was responsible for that state agency's public relations efforts. Harve also spent nearly six years in the Communications Office at the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and five years as head of public relations at Oklahoma City Community College. His professional journey also includes stints as director of sports information at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, and as a news assistant and reporter for KSWO-TV in Lawton, Okla.

Harve holds a master’s degree in political science and public management from MSU, and bachelor’s degrees in both business administration and journalism from the University of Oklahoma. He is a deacon and Sunday School teacher, and is an avid sports fan who enjoys serving on the stat crews for both OU football and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Charles DeNies

IT Specialist
Team member since 2006

Charles DeNies is a design specialist for DCN's IT department. Charles provides web, graphic, identity, and database design for DCN affiliated organizations, and is responsible for general support to the IT department. Charles lives in Portland, Oregon.

Sam DeNies

IT Administrator
Team member since 2001

Sam DeNies is the head of the IT department for DCN. He has over 15 years of professional experience developing websites and database applications. Sam is responsible for designing and developing new database applications, websites and other internet services for DCN affiliated organizations and select customers, as well as maintaining the health of our servers, workstations and networking infrastructure.

Valerie Gulick

Controller
Team member since 2014

Valerie Gulick, CPA, CGMA, is the Controller for Development Capital Networks.

Valerie brings a broad work experience to DCN. Early in her career, she worked for the FBI in Washington, D.C. In the late 1970’s Valerie moved to Oklahoma. Since that time, she has worked in data processing for financial institutions, state government contracting, and oilfield chemical manufacturing.

Valerie and her staff are responsible for the financial accounting for all the various DCN entities and sister organizations. This includes overseeing 5 audits annually as well as ensuring over 20 tax returns are prepared and timely filed.

Robert Heard

Founder, Co-Managing Director, Development Capital Networks
Team member since 1997

Robert was a founder of the National Association of Seed and Venture Funds (NASVF) and the Latin American Venture Capital Association (LAVCA). He co-authored with Dr. John Sibert the National Governors' Association study, "The Experience of States with Seed and Venture Capital," and co-authored with Jim Troxel the "Innovation Finance Reference Guide" for the Council of Development Finance Agencies and the Angel Investing Workbook for the National Association of Seed and Venture Funds. He is a partner in Cimarron Capital Partners and is a member of the National Advisory Council of the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer.

Robert earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Oklahoma and his MBA from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

Kendall Hutchinson

Development Specialist, Wyoming Smart Capital Network
Team member since 2016

Kendall supports the credit programs of WSCN and administration of the Advisory Council of Municipalities. Kendall is a recent University of Wyoming graduate with an MBA and a BS in Finance. While at UW, Kendall worked on several entrepreneurial projects and as a financial analyst intern at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. Kendall enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and young son. Kendall makes his home in Casper, Wyoming.

Mark Huston

Enterprise Manager, Development Funds
Team member since 2005

Mark leads DCN's service to development funds in Wyoming and North Dakota. His rich history includes roles as the Portfolio Manager for the Iowa Fund of Funds with Cimarron Capital Partners, the Managing Director of Cimarron Business Capital, and Director and former President of the National Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA).

Earlier, Mark was the Manager of Business Finance at the Oregon Economic Development Department. Under his management, thousands of Oregon companies were provided with over $1 billion of financing.

Mark received a Masters of Public Administration degree from Arizona State University and a Bachelors of Science degree in Economics from the University of Idaho. Mark makes his home in Portland, Oregon.

Christina Kappaz

Board Director
Team member since 2002

Christina is a director at DCN. From 2002 -2007 she served as the President of the Latin American Venture Capital Association (LAVCA). In 2004, Christina coordinated a team that developed a reform package and action plan for developing the venture capital industry in Mexico. In 2006 Christina coordinated advisory work with Nacional Financiera of Mexico on the design of a US$450 million fund of funds program. In 2009 she joined Cimarron Capital Partners and represents Cimarron in Latin America.

Christina has worked at the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank on private sector development programs. She currently leads the regional Youth Entrepreneurship Programme in Latin America and the Caribbean for British charity Youth Business International.

Christina is fluent in Spanish. She holds both an MBA and a Masters of International Affairs from Columbia University. Her B.A. in Government is from Dartmouth College. Christina lives with her family near Bogotá, Colombia.

Catherine Myers

Administrative Assistant, Accounting
Team member since 2002

Catherine Myers is DCN's Office Manager who also assists the DCN Controller with invoicing, event registration and payment processing. She is responsible for the production of administrative and clerical items, event planning and tasks for the company and staff. Catherine also serves as the Administrative Assistant to Robert Heard and is responsible for handling the logistics of events.

Catherine received her undergraduate degree from Oklahoma State University.

Josh O'Brien

Senior Business Development Manager
Team Lead, Unmanned Aerial Systems Cluster Initiative (UASCI)
Team member since 2015

Josh O'Brien came to DCN after working 13 years in economic development for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber in a variety of roles, most recently as the Director of Entrepreneurial Development. Prior to that, O'Brien worked at the local and state levels for public education in Oklahoma for more than seven years and as a journalist/writer and for more than 10 years in three different states. O'Brien received his bachelor's degree from Oklahoma City University and a master's degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He is married to wife, Susan Dawson-O'Brien, and has two sons, Evan and Spencer.

Amanda Radovic

While with DCN Amanda has worked with over 1000 start-ups, spin-outs, and research organizations commercializing emerging technologies through DCN’s programs.

Early in her career Amanda lead a nonprofit organization, worked for the State of Arizona and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. She brings over 20 years of experience working with government agencies, universities, venture investors, Fortune 500 companies, start-ups and industry leaders in technology commercialization. She has an extensive background in marketing, developing education programs for startups, and mentoring technology innovators in high tech sectors.

Amanda earned a B.A. in Neuropsychology from The Evergreen State College.

Jim Troxel

Jim Troxel is an author and consultant to public service organizations and private companies worldwide.

He previously served as Training Director for the National Association of Seed and Venture Funds (NASVF) and has led close to 100 seminars for 3500 people on seed investing for entrepreneurs and angel investors.

His career in community and organizational development and leadership training spans 40 years and a dozen countries.

Jim has inspired more than 70,000 people in over 1000 seminars and workshops.

His editing credits include two books, Participation Works: Business Cases Around the World and Government Works: Profiles of People Making a Difference as well as several published articles.

Jim launched the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) now active in 30 countries, with a membership base of close to 2,000. The IAF awarded Jim the Certified Professional Facilitator status.

Jim received his undergraduate degree from Oklahoma State University and his graduate degree from DePaul University where we served as an adjunct faculty member for its School for New Learning.